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Paws for a Cause: How to Help Your Local Animal Shelter

If you’re a pet lover, you have likely spent some time in a local animal shelter. Many of us would love to help dogs, cats, and other rescued animals living at these shelters, but let’s face it—it can be challenging. There often aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with our busy schedules, let alone to volunteer for the variety of tasks a shelter needs help with.

Luckily, there are lots of ways to help local animal shelters without investing a ton of time, money, or energy. See below for 3 of the easiest ways to do so.

Spread the word.
Hang fliers of adoptable animals or for upcoming adoption events in pet stores, vet offices, parks, and other places where potential adopters frequent. In addition, sharing the profiles of adoptable animals with your followers on social media is simple and could play a part in creating the perfect match for an animal in need of a loving home.

Get moving.
Have a car? Many shelters have a hard time arranging to get animals from the shelter to vet appointments. Donating a little of your time (and your driving skills) will help animals get the care they need, when they need it. You can also take an hour once a week (or more!) to drop by and take a dog for a walk or hang out with the cats. Playtime has huge psychological and physical benefits for waiting animals—and humans!

Utilize your talents.
Shelters could use help with a ton of tasks. For example, if you’re crafty, you can create homemade toys and bedding using old clothes or blankets. Are you a carpenter or a DIY whiz? Then you can help with anything from renovating parts of a facility to building a new cat tree. If you’re a web-savvy person, you can help with designing a professional-looking website; and if you’re a photography fan, you can donate your skill by taking high-quality photos for adoption profiles.